(Photo: Newsweek)
For years, the Indianapolis Colts dominated the AFC South. From 2003–2007 and again in 2009–2010, they won the division and posted 12-win seasons each year under head coach Tony Dungy. That era featured stars like Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, and Dallas Clark on offense, while Dwight Freeney anchored the defense. Several of those players have since been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After closing the Peyton Manning chapter, the Colts drafted Andrew Luck first overall out of Stanford in 2012 and got several quality seasons out of him. Unfortunately, Luck struggled to stay healthy and abruptly retired during the 2019 preseason. Since then, the Colts have endured a revolving door at quarterback—from Philip Rivers to Carson Wentz, Nick Foles, Joe Flacco, and even a season with Matt Ryan. As of now, the Colts officially hold the best record in the AFC at 6–1, following a huge road win against the Chargers. What’s stood out to me?
This offense finally has an identity, and it begins and ends with Jonathan Taylor. While he’s struggled with injuries, when healthy, he’s one of the top three running backs in the league. He runs hard, can make defenders miss in the open field, and is clearly their best offensive player. The Colts have been smart about getting him involved and sticking with what works—something many teams stray from too often. Now let’s talk about Daniel Jones. This is by far the best he’s looked on an NFL field. Sometimes, all it takes is one coach to believe in a player, and Jones is making the most of his current opportunity. I mentioned this earlier in the year, and I’ll say it again: playing in a smaller market than New York has made a huge difference. He no longer has to deal with the intense scrutiny of the NYC media, which can be ruthless. Indianapolis provides a more stable and supportive environment—and it’s clearly paying off.
As good as the offense has been, I wish I could say the same about the defense. There’s no denying the talent: Kwity Paye, DeForest Buckner, Laiatu Latu, and Zaire Franklin are all impact players. When it comes to takeaways, the Colts rank among the league’s best with 24 total, including 15 interceptions. That’s impressive. However, great defenses can’t rely solely on turnovers. What happens on a day they don’t force one? The Colts’ defense ranks 28th against the run and 23rd in points allowed. The pass rush has been inconsistent, and the secondary is shaky at times. In short, it’s a work in progress—opportunistic, yes, but not yet consistently effective, especially against elite offenses. Looking ahead to Week 8, no one could’ve predicted the Colts would have the best record in the AFC at this point. Today’s win against the Chargers was massive, and they continue to prove doubters wrong week after week. The next few games will reveal even more, with two tough road matchups: one in Pittsburgh against the Steelers (which should be a fun one) and another at Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs—a notoriously tough place to play. Shane Steichen deserves serious Coach of the Year consideration, and Daniel Jones is my pick for Comeback Player of the Year.
